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Celebrity Justice
Ex to "Scrubs" Star: Here's Why You're Dr. Cox

Posted Jan 17th 2008 6:26PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned, a "Scrubs" star has scrubbed his child support obligation because of the WGA strike.

John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Cox on "Scrubs," was paying his ex-wife, Lauren Lambert, $9,000 a month in child support since their 2001 divorce. McGinley, whose 10-year-old son (with Lambert) has Down syndrome, has been praised for advocating Down syndrome research. But we've learned McGinley has told Lambert he has decided to cut his child support payments in half because of the writer's strike. Sources say he's told her it's "not fair" for him to pay his full obligation anymore because his show is not in production.

We're told Lambert is incensed, especially because McGinley, who is remarried with a child on the way, can afford "a big house in Malibu."

Sources say McGinley is supposed to pay half his monthly child support on the first of each month and the other half on the 15th. McGinley paid half on January 1 but paid nothing on the 15th and doesn't plan on it. Sources say Lambert may ask the judge to hold her ex in contempt.

McGinley's lawyer, Lynn Soodik, tells TMZ, "He's following the court order which allows him to reduce support if the show isn't being shot." But we've learned the court agreement states McGinley can reduce support only after "the final episode." The final episode is scheduled for the end of this season, so the fat lady hasn't sung.



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76. What is at issue that Mr McGinley is not currently earning income. It is fair that his child support payments be reduced. At $4500 a month , it would be obvious that his child is far from any danger of being neglected. To call Mr. McGinley a "Deadbeat Dad" is unjust and unfair. He is not refusing to pay child support, He is mearly asking it be reduced while the strike is on. As a single father , I find it insulting to compare Mr. McGinley to a father who shirks ALL financial responsibilty and doesn't have anything to do with his children. That doesn't seem to be the case with him.

Posted at 6:43AM on Jan 18th 2008 by michael

77. Lower your standard of living by half, Buthead, a Down Syndrome child is more expensive to care for, and needs a stable home. The New Wife must be more understanding. Just because there is a new Marriage, does not negate the previous children, especially if they are handicapped. Has he no heart? We are all tightening our belts in this country, not just writers. Adjust accordingly, and protect our children and elderly, and other people at risk. The healthy will have to just buck up and do the best we can. Yes, even those of us who used to be wealthy! For heaven's sake, where is his heart ? Get a frickin' clue, Dude!
(In CA, 9 grand is not what it is in the Midwest or the South! )

Posted at 7:23AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Bunnie Blondie

78. "(In CA, 9 grand is not what it is in the Midwest or the South! )"

Then maybe she should move to the Midwest or the South. It doesn't sound like she's tied down to a job or anything.

Posted at 7:28AM on Jan 18th 2008 by JG

79. HELLO! The court determined that because of his income he could , and should, pay that amount.
It is a drop in the bucket to this ACTOR who has been making movies and doing tv for a long time.
That child's FATHER can easily afford this and should WANT to support his kid to the best of his abilities.
Child support is based on income. Why should he live the rich life and his kid live below poverty guidelines?
Extreme? Yes, but you are calling her a gold-digger for wanting him to live up to obligations determined by the courts.
It takes two people to make a baby and people that make more money pay more in child support.
If he is too selfish to hand over the money, the courts can have it taken out before he even sees his paycheck, just like they do for all the other losers that think they did their part when the child was conceived.

Posted at 8:20AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Shanna

80. I'm sure she doesn't live in an apartment. Her home alone probably costs in the thousands for a mortgage every month.

Sorry, this a-hole can't just decide what HE wants to pay because he dumoed his wife and kid and bought new ones.

Posted at 7:54AM on Jan 18th 2008 by CJ

81. re: the child is receiving support from our tax dollars: This is not something offered to children who have parents with bucks, you guys. My sister has an Autistic son, and she only cleared about 160K. When she could no longer care for him at home, at 14, she had to find a nice place, and the state would not contribute to this facility, as she had a good income. Get with the program. You can't just put a kid away, and expect the state to pay for it.

Posted at 7:56AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Bunnie Blondie

82. Johnny C.: Of course, you know that, if he ends up being a waiter somewhere, he will go to court, and the Good Judge will reduce the $$ per month. Do you think a woman might feel the least bit bitter, after being dumped, and with a handicapped child ????? Hellooo , common sense, anyone?? (I know it's early on the Left Coast).

Posted at 8:09AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Bunnie Blondie

83. 4,500 a month? I wish i lived on those means. This is a classic scenario of a money hungary hussy sucking a man dry of his cash flow. Granted he must support his son,however if you can't manage a large amount of money like that she should be court ordered to money management classes. All in all your fans support you and keep being a great dad. GOOD LUCK SIR.

Posted at 8:16AM on Jan 18th 2008 by elm3550

84. I love how #53 completely neglects the fact that these writers are the people who write the scripts and storylines for television studios who make MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS off of the writers, yet the writers receive next to nothing. They get 1/3 of a cent or something like that for each unit sold. Plus, most of them have to live in L.A. (which most of them hate) and it's not the slightest bit cheap.

Posted at 8:32AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Morgan

85. #76, child support is for the child, not to pay her mortgage, if she wants to pay her mortgage, she is supposed to use money from her job.

Nobody should be judging either of them because of an article that probably took you 2 minutes to read. You don't know that she's necessarily a gold digger, she may, in fact, need that money to completely care for a child with Down Syndrome.

And how can anyone call him a deadbeat dad? Granted, he should have gone to the courts and requested that it be lowered, but he is still contributing to the child. A deadbeat dad is someone who hasn't paid their child support for months or years on end.

Posted at 8:19AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Amanda

86. New wife better pay attention. She'll likely be in the same boat as the ex wife in a couple of years when he moves on to wife #3. He's a loser screwing over his own kid.

Posted at 8:24AM on Jan 18th 2008 by gac

87. It really doesn't matter if we think she should be able to get by on $4500 a month. What matters is what he is court ordered to pay, and if unable to pay, if he has followed the agreement in regards to what he has to do if he is unable to pay.

That said, I have no personal knowledge of her situation. But it is not a stretch for me to agree that if she lives in California,her cost of living may well be much higher than mine. Not to metion she has a disabled child, and that disability may be severe enough to preclude her from working.

My opinion is that he needs to pay whatever the court says he has to pay until he gets relief from the court and gets it lowered.

Posted at 8:29AM on Jan 18th 2008 by trinity

88. "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh" That's only $54,000 a year!!!!! Now I have to get a job!!!!" Puhleaze!!!!! He is laid off and has bills to pay too. Its not like the strike is going to last forever, but if your mortgage, utilities, car payment , car insurance, and so forth comes to $12,000 a month, plus $9,000 for child support, that money goes really really quick. Selling a house right now is not favorable towards sellers, and he would lose money, and possibly still have money owed on the mortgage. She can chill with $4,500 a month until he starts working again. This strike can't last forever. What's a couple of months getting that much?

Posted at 8:51AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Sephanie

89. All these people saying he isn't currently earning any income..............."Scrubs" is already in syndication so I'm sure he's receiving very handsome residual checks. Please. He can afford it.

Posted at 9:16AM on Jan 18th 2008 by huh?

90. I read articles where he goes on about how much he loves his Down Syndrome son and what a blessing he is in his life(and I don't disagree)...so then WHY is he balking at still paying his support? You think he'd do it willingly and lovingly because he's his son and he loves him and wants him well cared for,and it's not like he can't afford it,either! If he can support a new wife and baby he can take care of his other child too(and if he can't afford both he shouldn't have started a second family then!!),and it's not like he's poor or anything,either! Shame on him!

Posted at 9:41AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Pogue Mahone

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